WASHINGTON (CNN) - Today's vote on the Senate immigration bill was a tough one for Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback.

The GOP presidential hopeful, who has supported the bill until now, voted yes for cloture on the measure before switching his vote fifteen minutes later to no. A vote for cloture is an indication of support for the measure.

Since the bill fell 14 votes shy of the 60 required for cloture, many in Congress have pronounced the bill dead.

Many conservatives - and likely GOP primary voters - have expressed ardent disapproval for the bill, claiming it amounts to amnesty.

Sen. John McCain, the other GOP senator running for president and a chief sponsor of the measure, voted for cloture on the bill.

UPDATE: Brownback's campaign has released a statement from the Kansas Republican on his vote against cloture.

"I voted against the Senate immigration bill because I am not convinced it would fix our broken immigration system and it would most likely repeat the mistakes of the 1986 reform."

What a weasel. President??? Don't make me laugh. As a fellow Kansan, let me assure the good Senator that he will not much longer hold his current job. He has been an embarassment when it comes to the immigration issue. Gracius, Ryan

Just goes to show you that politicians always look to which way the wind blew and try to make themselve out for the peopel when in fact they are only out for themselves.
Mybe brownback will sponser a bill to help (U.S. citizens) people who have been the victims of identity faud as a resual of all these Illegals using forged or stolen records Hmmm nope probably not.

Good for you Senator Brownback – there may be hope for you after all. But please believe the voters are watching all you folks in Congress and it may be a new day for all of you come 2008 – the independents are alive and well due to this do nothing congress and democrats? forget you I am going independent after45 years!! Go figure

Now – WHO IS GOING TO LEAD THE CHARGE ON SEEING THAT BORDERS ARE SECURE. OR WILL YOU FOLKS IN CONGRESS DO NOTHING AND ALLOW ANOTHER 500,000 TO COME ACROSS!!!
AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE WATCHING AND WE ARE NOT TAKING IT ANY M O R E

The only thing this guy is sure of is that abortion is murder. With a platform like that, why is he wasting his time (and our time in researching his platforms, or lack thereof)?

The guy doesn't believe in evolution, doesn't believe in Heliocentrism (the idea that the Earth revolves around the Sun), and takes everything he stands for from misinterpretations of the Bible. Even the majority of Christians think he's nuts.

In the end, I don't really care, as he's sucking money from the pockets of people who stupidly support his campaign and that's probably a good thing since they can't spend it on candidates with a chance to win who even come close to this guy in their views.

It seems like a no-brainer for conservatives focused on tougher border enforcement to oppose this bill. If you accept the proposition that current laws are finally starting to be enforced, then all that conservatives have to do is hold out for a couple of more years.

The recent increases in border interdiction numbers as well as deportation figures sap any motivation from conservatives who are chiefly concerned with enforcement and would rather not have the guest worker program go through.

Without the carrot of tougher enforcement, there's simply no reason for conservatives to jump on board.